Late Wednesday afternoon, the NHS declared an outbreak in one wing of the Greater Niagara General Hospital in Niagara Falls, marking the first time the NHS has dealt with a Clostridium difficile outbreak since the one at the St. Catharines General Hospital ended back on October 24, the article stated.

According to the article, the last series of outbreaks hit hospitals in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland and lasted nearly five months.

The declaration of an outbreak in Niagara Falls comes as a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal said C. difficile extends a patient''s stay in a hospital by an average of six days, putting extra burden on the health care system, the article noted.